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Healthcare

The Sulis Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SEOC) – Bath

Actiform delivered a £7.4M modular elective orthopaedic centre for IHP on behalf of The Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — expanding year-round surgical capacity for NHS patients across Swindon, Wiltshire, and the surrounding region.

Expertise
  • Modular theatre and clinical infrastructure delivery
  • High-spec mechanical, electrical & ventilation systems
  • Sustainable healthcare construction
Deliverables
  • 2 new modular operating theatres with Ultra Clean Ventilation
  • 167-panel solar array & air source heat pumps
  • Fully integrated Building Management System (BMS)

The Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust needed to significantly expand elective orthopaedic capacity — quickly, without compromising clinical standards or disrupting the live Sulis Hospital site. The scheme required two new modular theatres, expanded inpatient and day surgery capacity, conversion of two existing theatres to laminar flow, and the most energy-efficient building on the entire site, all within a 25-week programme.

Challenge

Solution

  1. 01/

    Challenge

    Operating theatres demand the highest standards of air quality, power reliability, and infection control — requirements that must be designed in from the start, not retrofitted.

    Solution

    Actiform delivered a fully modular superstructure with three air handling units fitted with Ultra Clean Ventilation (UCV) canopies in each theatre, ensuring high-specification air quality throughout. A dual electrical system with UPS backup was installed to guarantee continuous power supply, and all internal finishes met clinical infection control standards.

  2. 02/

    Challenge

    The new facility needed to integrate seamlessly with the existing Sulis Hospital building — architecturally and operationally — rather than feel like a bolt-on addition.

    Solution

    For the first time, Actiform implemented a standing seam cladding system, specifically chosen to complement the existing building’s design and deliver a seamless architectural match. A commercial-grade kitchen was also incorporated to serve both new and existing facilities across the wider site.

  3. 03/

    Challenge

    The Trust and IHP had clear sustainability targets — the new centre needed to set a new environmental benchmark for the site, not simply meet minimum standards.

    Solution

    The SEOC became the most sustainable facility on the Sulis Hospital site. A 167-panel solar array, air source heat pumps, low embodied carbon materials, and a fully integrated, metered BMS were all incorporated, achieving an air permeability rating of 2.78 m³/hr — significantly reducing energy use and carbon emissions in operation.

Our Approach

Actiform delivered the project as a hybrid scheme — a fully modular superstructure followed by traditional on-site fit-out — combining the speed and precision of off-site manufacture with the flexibility required to complete a complex clinical interior. The 25-week programme was managed without disruption to the live hospital site, with careful sequencing across structural, mechanical, electrical, and finishing workstreams.

Sustainability and social value were embedded throughout. Beyond the building’s environmental performance, the project created a range of new clinical and support roles across the centre, including positions for nurses, theatre staff, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and administrative professionals.

The Results

£7.4mContract value

167Solar panels installed

2.78 m³/hrAir permeability rating

Working closely with our estates and clinical leads, Actiform supported the design and build of a new modular emergency care unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow. The team helped us move away from traditional, siloed structures towards a flexible, technology-enabled space, working hand in hand with our design team to deliver a future-focused build, fully integrated into hospital operations.

Pasqualino Risi

Associate director of Estates and Facilities, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust